Safety device for razors.



c. A. HUBBARD. SAFETY DEVICE FOR RAZORS.

nbucmou man Ma. 26. ma. 1,285, 188. Patented Nov. 19, 1918'.

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(1. A. HUBBARD.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR RAZORS.

I APPLICATUN FILED MAR. 26.1918- 1,285,188. Patented Nov. 19,1918

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GECILARTHUR HUBBARD, 0F ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN.

*SAFETY DEVICE FOR RAZORS.

Specification of Letters. Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1918..

Application fiIcdMarch 26,. 1918. Serial No. 224,844.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CECIL A. HUBBARD, citizen of the United States. residing at Ann Arbor, in the county of 'Washtenaw and State of Michigan, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Razors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved safety attachment for straight blade razors and has as its primary object to provide a device of this character which maybe readily attached to razors of the character indicated already in use for preventing accidental cutting of the facein the operation of shaving.

The invention has as a further object to provide a device of the above describedcharacter employing a series of guard fingers at each side of the razor blade and wherein the said series of fingers may be adjusted so that, in the operation ofshaving, one series of fingers will contact with the face below the cutting edge of the blade while the other series of fingers'will contact the face above the said cutting edge to consequently minimize the possibility of accidental cutting of the face. I Y

The invention has as a still further object to provide an arrangement wherein each series of guard fingerswill be carried by a finger bar and wherein the fingers may be individually adjusted upon the finger bars so that the freeends of the series of fingers may be positioned to conform to any irregularities in the cutting edge of the razor blade. 7

And a still further object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement for rigidly holding the finger bars in their ele vated or lowered position Wlt-ll IBSDQ-Cll to the razor blade to consequently rigidly support thefingers to contactwith the face in the operation of shaving.

Other and incidental objects will appear as the description proceeds. and in the drawings wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of the inventionand wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a side elevation showing my improved attachment applied to a conventional. type of straight razor blade,

Fi 2 is a ers oective view showin the supporting frame of the device in detail,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing one of the guardfinger bars in detail,

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. '1 and particularly illustrating the construction of the attaching yoke employed for securing the frame of the device to the razor blade,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5'5 of Fig. l and particularlyshowing the mounting of the arms employed for looking the guard finger bars in their raised or lowered position with respect to the razor blade,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 1 and particularly illustrating the mounting of the guard finger bars at their inner ends,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the manner in which the series of guard fingers are adjusted with respect to the razor blade in the operation of shaving,

Fig.8 is a sectional View taken on the line-88 of Fig. 1 and particularly showing the mounting of the guard finger bars at their outer extremities, and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing one of the guard lingers in detail.

In order that the construction, mounting and operation of my improved safety device may be accurately understood. I have, in the drawings. shown the said device in connection with a conventional type of straight blade razor 10 having a reduced shank 11. In carrying out the invention'l employ a substantially U-shaped' frame including parallel arms 12 at the inner extremities of which are formed laterally and outwardly directed sleeves 13. At Lhc inner sides of the sleevesthe confronting faces of the arms are roughened or formed with teeth 14. Projecting iiorwardly from the bi'ght of the frame is asquared lug 15. The frame is, as particularly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, ofa length to embrace the razor blade T0 to extend longitudinally thereof with the-blade received between the arms of the frameand connecting the frame'with thejblade is a substantially U-shaped attaching yoke 16. lhis yOke is formed with suitable resilient arms 17' which embrace the shank 11 of-theblade and :sl-i'dably receive the sleeves 13"of theiframe to confront opposite sides ofjthe said shank. The teeth 14. ofthe arms of the frame are thus disposed to bearagainstthe shank and connecting the free ends of thearms 1743f the yoke is a clamp screw 18 which may be adjusted for tightly clamping the inner ends of the arms of the frame against the shank of the blade and thus securely connecting the frame therewith. As will be seen, the sleeves 13 may be shifted longitudinally of the arms 17 of the yoke for adjusting the frame to ward or away from the cutting edge of the blac e, and threaded through the said sleeves to engage the yoke arms are set screws 19 for holding the frame at adjustment.

Mounted upon the lug of the frame is a depending arm or head piece 20 having a suitable socket formed therein to receive the lug and connected with the said lug by an axial clamp screw 21. As particularly shown in Fig. 8, this arm or head piece is preferably tapered toward its lower end. Riveted or otherwise secured to the arms 12 of the frame adjacent their inner extremities are oppositely disposed depending arms '22. These arms are formed with slots while the head piece or arm 20 is formed with similar slots 2i. Slidably engaged at their ends in these slots and thus supported by the arms at opposite sides of the razor blade, are longitudinally disposed finger bars and mounted upon each of these bars is a series of guard fingers 26, one of the said fingers being shown in detail in Fig. 9 of the drawings. These fingers are each formed with a laterally enlarged base 27, the inner face of which is, as particularly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, slightly convex to conform to one of the concave faces of the razor blade and rising from the outer face of the said base is a laterally directed finger body 28. This finger body is substantially triangular in general contour, being tapered from its upper end toward its lower end and is thus formed with an outer inclined edge 29. At its lower end thefinger body projects below the base and is slightly reduced or cut away upon its inner edge as shown at to provide a clearance way for the razor blade. Projecting laterally from the opposite sides of the finger body to confront the base 27 in substantially parallel relation thereto, are oppositely directed flanges 31 and formed through the finger body between the said flanges and the base a slot 32 extending longitudinally of the finger body. The fingers 26 as thus described are threaded upon the fingerbars which are freely received through the slots 32 of the said fingers to support the fingers with the inner curved faces of their bases 27 lying againstthe opposite side faces of the razor blade. Thus, the bases 27' of the fingers will abut each other for spacing the finger bodies 28 longitudinally of the finger bars while the flanges 29 of the said fingers will overlie the said bars to seat against the outer faces thereof. Threaded into the finger bars to engage the confronting flanges of adjacent neeeaae fingers as well as to engage the outermost flanges of the terminal fingers, are a plurality of set screws 33 adjustable to firmly clamp the fingers in position upon the said bars. Consequently, it will be seen that since the slots 32 in the finger bodies are of a length greater than the width of the finger bars, the fingers may be adjustably shifted vertically with respect to the said bars and locked at adjustment by the set screws 33. Therefore, the fingers of each series may be individually adjusted upon the finger bar therefor for positioning the lower ends of the fingers of such series in alinement, as shown in Fig. l, to conform to a straight cutting edge of a razor blade or otherwise disposed with respect to each other to conform to an irregular cutting edge. The fingers are, of course, arranged with their smaller ends presented downwardly so that the inclined edges of the finger bodies will thus slope in a direction downwardly and inwardly toward the razor blade while below the bases of the fingers, the blade will be received within the clearance ways 30 at the reduced lower ends of the fingers so that the said fingers will at no time contact with the cutting edge of the blade to cause injury thereto.

lilounted upon the arms 12 of the frame medially with respect to the finger bars are swinging catch members for the finger bars. These catch members each include a shank 3d at the outer end of which is formed a laterally and inwardly directed terminal 35. Formed on the inner end of such shank is a split bearing sleeve or loop 36 embracing one of the arms 12 of the frame and mounted to rotate upon a suitable reduced portion 37 formed on the said arm and rounded to receive the sleeve. The sleeve will thus be held against longitudinal movement. Projecting from the upper side of the sleeve is an upstanding lug 38 and fitted through the sleeve at its outer side is a horizontally arranged finger pin 39. As particularly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the catch members are of such length that the terminals thereof may be engaged beneath the finger bars 25 for supporting the said bars in elevated position at the tops of the slots '23 and 2% of the arms 20 and 22 of the supporting frame and consequently holding the guard fingers in retracted position, and mounted upon the top edges of the arms 12 of the frame are leaf springs 4C0 engaging with the lugs 38 of the catch members for constantly urging the free ends thereof toward the finger bars LO engage therewith. The springs 40 are, at their inner ends, screwed or otherwise secured to the arms 12 and are given a half turn to yieldably hear at their outer ends against the inner sides of the lugs to thus yieldably hold the catch members in normally active position. Formed in the up- LOO resales a such catch member swungoutwardly to free the guard finger 'bar at the adjacent side of the razor blade. This bar willthen in1, mediately drop down to the bottoms. ofthe slots 24: and'25 receivin the ends of'the bar when the guard fingers of the bar will be supported thereby projecting, as shown in.

Fig. 7 of the drawings, below the cutting edge of the razor blade. of thesaid catch member, its spring 40 will immediately swing suchmemher to engage the terminal 35 thereof in thenotch 41 of the lowered finger bar forthus. locking the guard fingers of the bar in extended position. The razor then ready for use and when applied to the face in usual tilted position, as shown in Fig. 7., it will be noted that the beveled edges 29 of thebodies of the fingers at the inner side ofrtheblade will be disposed tocontact with the face above the cutting edge of the blade while the lower ends of the bodies of the fingers at the outer side of theblade will be disposed to contact with the face below'the cutting edge of the blade. Thus, the guard fingers will be adapted to contact with the face both above and below. the cutting edge of the blade so that possibility of accidental cut' ting of the face in the operation of shaving will be reduced "to a minimum. It will, of, course, be understood that. either series of guard fingers may be extended, as desired, so that either sideof the razor may be disposed adjacent the face and in this connection it will be noted thatthe catch members employed in connection with the guard finger bar-s25 not onlgyr provide a: means for sup porting the said bars in elevated position'to lock the guard fingers retracted but also provide a means for locking the bars in lowered position with the guard fingers extended.

It will, therefore, be seen that I provide a particularly eflicient construction for the purpose set forth and a safety device which may be readily connected to and used upon substantially any conventional type of straight blade razor. Furthermore, the device is of a very simple nature so that it may accordingly be produced at minimum. cost.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A device of the character described in- Unon the release eluding a supporting frame, means for connecting the frame with the blade of a razor to extend longitudinally of the said blade, a longitudinal guard finger bar slidably supported by the frame, a series of guard fingers carried bv the bar. and means pivoted upon the frame to coact with said bar for locking the bar in elevated position with the guard fingers retracted or looking the bars in lowered position with the guard fingers; extended.

2. A device of the character described including a supporting frame having spaced arms joined by a connecting portion, means engaged with the free ends of said arms for connecting the frame with the blade of a razor with the arms, extending at opposite sides of the blade longitudinally thereof and with the said connecting portion extendingv around the outer end of the blade, longitudinal guard finger bars slidably supported from said arms, a Series of guard fingers carried by each of saidbars and adaptedv to confront opposite sides of a razor blade, and means upon the frame adapted to coact with said bars for locking the bars in elevated position with the guard fingers re:

tracted or lockingthe ba-Is inlowered position with the guard fingers extended.

3. A device of the character described ineluding a supporting framenneans for con nectlng the frame with the blade of a razor toextend longitudinally of the' said blade and having the frame engaged therewith for adjustment toward or away from the cutting edge of the blade, a longitudinal guard finger bar slidably supported by the frame, a series of guard fingers carried by thebar, and means upon the frame adapted to coact with said bar for locking the bar in elevatedposition with the guard fingers retracted or looking the bar in lowered posi-- tion with the guard fingers extended.

4. .A device of the character described including a supporting frame having spaced arms, a yoke for connecting the frame with the blade of a razor to extend longitudinally of the said blade with the arms of the frame disposed at opposite sides of the blade, the said yoke being formed with arms engaging with the arms of the frame, clamping means connecting the arms of the yoke, a longitudinal guard finger bar slidably supported by the frame, a series of guard fingers carried by the bar, and means upon the frame adapted to coact with said bar. for locking the bar in elevated position with the guard fingers retracted or looking the bar in lowered position with the guard fingers extended.

5. A device of the character described including a supporting frame, means for connecting the frame with the blade of a razor to extend longitudinally of the said blade, a longitudinal guard finger bar slidably supported by the frame, a series of guard fingers carried by said bar and individually adjust-able thereon, and means upon the frame adapted to coact with said bar for locking the bar in elevated position with the guard fingers retracted or looking the bar in lowered position with the guard fingers extended.

6. A device of the character described including a supporting frame, means for connecting the frame with the blade of a razor to extend longitudinally of the said blade, a longitudinal guard finger bar supported by the frame, a series of guard fingers carried by the bar and each including a base, and a finger body projecting from the base and slotted to receive the bar for supporting the finger thereon and means upon the frame adapted to enact with the bar for locking the bar in elevated position With the guard fingers retracted or locking the bar in lowered position with the guard fingers extended.

7. A device of the character described including a supporting frame means for connecting the frame with the blade of a razor to extend longitudinally of the said blade, a longitudinal guard finger bar. slidably supported by the frame, a series of guard lingers carried by the bar, and a swinging catch member mounted upon the frame and adapted to coact with the said bar for loclr ing the bar in elevated position with the guard fingers retracted or for locking the bar in lowered position with the guard fingers extended.

8. A device of the character described including a supporting frame. means for connecting the frame with the blade of a razor to extend longitudinally of the said blade; longitudinal 'uard finger bar slidably supported by the frame, a series of guard fingers carried by the bar, a swinging catch member mounted upon the frame and adapted to coact with the said bar for locking the bar in elevated position with the guard fingers retracted or for locking the bar in lowered position with the guard fingers exresales tended, and yieldable means constantly urging the said catch member to coact with the finger bar.

9. A device of the character described'ineluding a supporting frame, means for connecting the frame with the blade of a razor blade, a longitudinal finger bar supported by the frame, a series of guard fingers carried by the bar and each including a base and means engaging the bases of the said fingers and connecting the fingers With the bar for adjustment thereon.

11. A device of the character described including a supporting frame, means for connecting the frame With the blade of a razor to extend longitudinally of the said blade and having the frame adjustable thereon whereby the frame maybe positioned toward or away from the cutting edge of the blade, a guard finger bar carried by the frame, and a series of guard fingers individually adjustable upon the said bar.

12. A device of the character described in-v eluding a supporting frame, means for connecting the frame with the blade of a razor to extend longitudinally thereof an arm extending from the frame at its inner end,

a head piece connected to the frame at its outer endn a longitudinal guard finger bar extending between said arm and head piece and slidably supported thereon, a series of guard fingers carried by the bar, and means upon the frame to coact With the bar for locking the bar in either elevated or lowered position.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

CECIL ARTHUR HUBBARD; [LL it] Copies of this patent may be obtained for fore cents each, by addressing the commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 73. C." 

